What was I thinking?
I keep hearing myself say this – mostly silently, but not always – as I continue to sort through things. Two months after the move and it has become something of a mantra.
The final homeowner of a three-bedroom family home with 58 years of accumulated stuff, I found paring things down to fit in a kitchen/eating area, bedroom, bathroom, living room and two small closets a challenge, to say the least. I’m slowly learning, but it hasn’t been and still ain’t, a lesson easily learned.
There was stuff I brought with me thinking I would need it, and 98% of the time, I was right. Most were necessities and they filled the available space fairly quickly.
There was stuff I brought with me thinking I might need it, and 90% of the time, I was wrong. Fortunately, would need ruled out over might need quite a bit before the moving of stuff even began, so there wasn’t much of might need items to contend with. The realization of having to physically move it myself also put a damper on the hauling of the might needs. This is one of the areas that the mantra has come into play, and that 90% of stuff has been donated, with a little bit of it trashed.
There were exceptions, of course. I brought a sewing machine with me. I rarely sew anymore, but I might need it to mend something. Its usage will change in the near future, as I’ll be sewing curtains for windows (light filtering Venetian blinds don’t cut the glare of the streetlight into my bedroom at night) and my balcony door that gives me such a gorgeous view (presently covered with a piece of fabric). There’s that extra layer of cold air blocking that curtains and drapes give come wintertime, of course. However, my neighbors and the folks on the street below also don’t need to see me going through my daily routines and/or inadequately clothed for public viewing. The middle-aged fat girl is still a little self-conscious about such things.
I might also need the small generator I brought with me. I had offers to buy it before and after I moved and my response was always the same – “Oh, hell, no!” Back in better financial days and three days before Tropical Storm Irene meandered through in 2011, I bought one of the few generators left in a 50-mile radius. I had to travel 25 miles to get it and it was worth the money and traveling time for that weather event and over the years since then. It doesn’t power much, but it doesn’t have to. It has a special storage place and is still lovingly maintained. It is the piece of might need stuff that I always hope I never need, but will always be glad I have on hand.
There was stuff I brought with me that was for family. Not too much, ‘cause family have their own stuff to contend with and don’t want/need more. I’ve been lax about sending it on, mostly because I keep forgetting to find boxes to ship it. There’s also the fear of the shipping costs on what is my fairly tight budget. However, those items will go before the leaves drop. I already made that promise to myself.
Then, there was stuff I brought with me to donate. I have been good about following through on this. Most items meant for donation have been donated. Goodwill, Salvation Army, a local church and a local library have all been recipients of items no longer of use to me which could be of use to someone else. Notice I said most of the stuff – it’s an ongoing process. I keep finding more as my mantra gets used.
I haven’t always been successful in my attempts to give stuff away. One piece in particular was earmarked for someone from the git-go. I brought a non-motorized push mower in pristine condition with me to give – GIVE, FREE, NO COST, GRATIS – to someone who said they wanted it. After being reminded for two weeks that I saved it just for them and it was taking up space in my hall closet that I desperately needed, they back-peddled and said, “Nah, that’s okay, I don’t need it.” I now have a non-motorized lawn mower in pristine condition which I’ve used as a doorstop a couple of times over the last two months, but it otherwise has no real purpose and needs to find a new home with someone else. Oh, wait – I need to find it a home with someone else.
On that note, I end this entry. It leaves one last topic of this series, and it’s the one which the mantra has trouble breaking through – the stuff kept for emotional reasons. That'll be the next entry and will be posted sooner rather than later this time, as it’s almost finished now.
I figured I’d give you a break.
